The spiders in the BC drains were of some concern to me, especially in the Victoria drains where the ceilings tend to be quite low. I observed several types (species?) and have been trying to find information on them.

The black ones with big fat black bodies I'm not sure about. While they could be Black Widows, it seems more likely that they are 'Cob Web Weavers', as mentioned by Surekill. This website calls them 'False Black Widow', but it's the same Steatoda grossa:http://www.zoo.org...iders/f_widow.html

You must understand that although the whereabouts of these tunnels are known about by a few explorers, we found them ourselves. We did sufficient research in libraries, archives, and on the streets looking for these. One shouldnt just expect to give up location entrances to newcomers.

Forgive me for being a nazi mother goose but I can see two reasonable ways to go about gaining access and reaping the rewards.

A: Post pictures of things you've found and useful information which contributes towards the Victoria thread/UER (This way you will come in contact with other explorers and other explorers can see the work you've done) You will probably be taken on expeditions and explorations and thrown hints. But not giveaways.

B: Find them yourself without using any help. Just like we did. (Believe me this makes the payoff soooo much better) If you can do this...KUDOS

You got one thing right Reduxzero! They sure are grossa! Hahaha. Well ok maybe that wasn't funny. Sorry I didn't get to meet you recently. I only heard about your presence once you were already gone. I guess I'm not in the loop!

I think that the very large brown spiders that you sometimes see in the drains here are a couple species of Tegenaria (house spider, hobo spider, etc.). They are big and brown.

I haven't seen any black widows in the drains, although I have seen several spiders that one could mistake for black widows if they weren't paying attention. It would be remotely possible to find black widows in our drains, but unlikely. I haven't ever seen black widows liking areas with that much humidity.

You could encounter a hobo spider here, but according to the local spider expert those aren't particularly dangerous. It is very unlikely that you will get bit by a spider in the drains. And on the remote chance you did, it probably wouldn't even be noticable. The centipedes will, however, bite you, and you will feel it. And of course the mutant pigmy albino satanists.

I think that the wildlife in our drains is the best part. Besides a plethora of cool spiders, centipedes, and fungi, last time I was under I saw albino slugs and rats.

I ain't giving out directions to any drains. There are maps. They aren't online. They are available to the public.

Bowker Creek is the only easy to access drain in Victoria. All the others you must get into through manholes in the middle of streets. Most of them are in heavily used areas, and some even have 24 hour security. You cannot do them during the day, and most can only be done at 3am, and even then with caution. Many of them are in areas where if someone sees you they will call the cops. For some drains you have to secure your exit with pylons before you go down or you risk getting your head run over when you come up. For ALL of them, you must close the manhole up after you when you go down. If you can't close it yourself, or convince a friend to stay topside and close it for you, then you shouldn't go down. These places aren't designed for tourists. High tides and storms can make them dangerous. Most of them have sewer overflows, which at times makes them unpleasant (and perhaps unhealthy). There are a lot of manholes, many of them are hard to open, and the maps are inaccurate. You will need to scout them out ahead of time.

I don't mean to say that draining in Victoria is impossible for anyone except for a handful of us elite. It is very possible, and very rewarding, and our drains are gorgeous. But I am saying that if you aren't willing to dedicate some thought to this pursuit, you shouldn't be down there.

Also, the city just sealed my favorite entrance to my favorite drain, probably because of the careless entry of certain other explorers (cough cough). So I had to go in through a manhole I didn't like, and I somehow dropped it on my head. You may wonder how someone could possibly be so stupid as to actually drop a couple hundred pound manhole cover on their own head. I'm still wondering the same thing. But it was damn heavy, and my head still hurts.

So I'm not too keen about extraneous traffic through the drains I like to crawl around in. If you are willing to put in the time and effort to find them, and use adequate caution so you don't spoil it for others, then that is great. Otherwise stay away from places you shouldn't be.

I'm willing to spend countless hours exploring drains, doing general urban exploration and of course the research necessary for these outings, but as I am new to urban exploration, my knowledge of techniques and locations is minimal.

I understand people's reluctancy to help others who may spoil their favourite haunts, but all I ask is to have a push in the right direction, so I don't do something stupid or get myself hurt. I am by no means asking for directions anymore, as I have come to understand others feelings about that through this thread.

I will start with a simple question, that would help me greatly if answered:

Posted by MatthiasI'm willing to spend countless hours exploring drains, doing general urban exploration and of course the research necessary for these outings, but as I am new to urban exploration, my knowledge of techniques and locations is minimal.

I understand people's reluctancy to help others who may spoil their favourite haunts, but all I ask is to have a push in the right direction, so I don't do something stupid or get myself hurt. I am by no means asking for directions anymore, as I have come to understand others feelings about that through this thread.

I will start with a simple question, that would help me greatly if answered:

Does anybody know where I could purchase manhole keys?

I just use my fingers.

If you really need a manhole key, they are pretty easy to make. But if you require a tool to open them, I don't see how you are going to close them up after you. Which is essential. If some kid falls into a manhole, or some car looses a tire in one because you left it open, we will sacrifice you to the satanists.

Some advice for you:

Spend hours/days in the library/archives pouring over the maps and learning the infrastructure of the city.

Check it out on the ground. The maps don't always match reality, and there are many other manholes out there. Sanitary sewers, telecommunication vaults, drinking water, etc. Traverse your entire route above ground and figure out where you are going in and coming out. This is easiest to do in the daytime, but make sure you don't draw attention to the drains. We are allowed to be down there by virtue of the fact that no one officially knows that we are down there. Remember that when you are down below, you can't see what is happening above you. You can't tell if the manhole is about to get run over by a car. So NEVER plan on popping a manhole from below if it is in the middle of the street

Go back there at about 3am when there is no traffic. Watch carefully for a while to make sure your entrance is safe. Make sure you close the manhole up after you, even if you are only going to be down for a short while. Most of our covers have a little nub on them that needs to be seated properly. Closing the cover up after you is much harder than opening it.

Don't go down if it has been raining heavily recently. If it is high tide and windy, don't go to close to the outflow.

Make sure you have a way to get out. Usually you can't exit via the outflow. You need to either find a manhole to exit from that is in a sidewalk or grassy place (which is hard to find), or secure a manhole in an unused street by putting pylons around it to make sure no one is going to hit you when you come out. Remember that they all look the same from the underside, and that the maps aren't entirely accurate.

If it smells bad, don't go. There is occasionally a lot of nasty stuff dumped into our drains, shit being the least of your worries.

Posted by konkHas anyone explored the drains leading into Douglas creek? It used to be much more accessable, but they have made some changes in the last 5-10 years.

Redux and I went into the drain through the outfall on our trip out there; smells like tar, definitely has san dumped directly into it, and it was the first time either one of us had ever seen a wooden drain!

Today I heard a rumour from a co-worker about a tunnel from under johnson street bridge that goes to bastion square (catacombs?), I had heard of this tunnel before, but have been hesitant to approach the possible entrance because of the large number of shady looking people in the area that may not want an outsider to invade their personal spaces, as former stories in this thread suggest. Has anyone seen this tunnel/explored it?

Posted by MatthiasToday I heard a rumour from a co-worker about a tunnel from under johnson street bridge that goes to bastion square (catacombs?), I had heard of this tunnel before, but have been hesitant to approach the possible entrance because of the large number of shady looking people in the area that may not want an outsider to invade their personal spaces, as former stories in this thread suggest. Has anyone seen this tunnel/explored it?

- Matthias

This is one of the earliest stories I heard. In fact, this may be the initial lead that started my whole journey.

The area you mentioned was once a deep ravine, and was home to some of Victoria's earliest Chinese immigrants. That famous picture (as seen in Market Square) of wood-framed buildings stacked one on top of the other, generally considered a shanty, is rumoured to be the spot where tunnels were first constructed.

As for Bastion Square, check the parking lot across the street. It is the site of the Hudson Bay Company warehouse. You'll find a large yellow-bricked archway, now sealed, that is alleged to be a tunnel that leads directly under the street and into Bastion Square-area catacombs. Formerly the site of public hangings, the bodies of the condemned were said to have been entombed under the courthouse, now the Maritime Museum.

Overall, these two locations offer some of the most compelling evidence of our beloved (and fabled) tunnel network.

The rough-looking characters who stand guard around the Johnson St. entrance have good reason to protect their turf.

"The truth is knowable. But probably not, ever, incontrovertible."--Don DeLilloPICS

Today I heard a rumour from a co-worker about a tunnel from under johnson street bridge that goes to bastion square (catacombs?), I had heard of this tunnel before, but have been hesitant to approach the possible entrance because of the large number of shady looking people in the area that may not want an outsider to invade their personal spaces, as former stories in this thread suggest. Has anyone seen this tunnel/explored it?

This could be the rumour of a different tunnel which has been thrown around so much that Market Square was changed to Bastion Square....I too have heard Bastion Square stories but honestly I find it unlikely apart from the odd short burrow or under story space.

The ravine did start where the Johnson Street Bridge begins, but did not cut East and then North through Bastion Square.....it went up...through Market Square and through the parking lot that is now behind Mountain Equipment Co. If you go to that parking lot and look at the walls and shop-backs you can see that they were once stationed on the side of this ravine.

The tunnel which I think this rumour might be mistaken for is this one:

Kubla Komprende'?

If zombies take over, and you end up going to universal studios, let me know..I will meet you there

I recently heard of a tunnel that exists or at least existed under downtown near the Bay Center. Here it is: There was a tunnel that snaked from the Bay Center down under Broad Street to an annex which was used to keep stock for the mall. Also underground near the basement of the old mall was a grocery store.

Anyways....I talked to a woman who works with my mother who used to work at the mall and specifically remembers going through this tunnel/passageway to the annex and retrieving stock on trolleys. She just recently passed away. Does anyone who has lived in this town a long time remember this? Was Broad Street torn up and this passage filled in? Whats under all those grates along the sidewalks on Broad Street?

If zombies take over, and you end up going to universal studios, let me know..I will meet you there

Peterman, Didn't that guy we talked to tell us that it used to be all warehouse under there? That would colloborate your mom's friend's account. Unless she was talking about the old Bay building? Cause the current Bay center used to be the Eatons center right? When did this lady work there?